At a Glance
- Tasks: Support cybersecurity risk management and assess AI-related risks in a dynamic environment.
- Company: Join Alpaca, a global leader in innovative financial services and technology.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, stock options, and a monthly stipend for home-office setup.
- Other info: Work remotely with a diverse team and enjoy excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on cybersecurity and AI governance while growing your skills.
- Qualifications: 1+ years in cybersecurity or related fields; curiosity about AI is essential.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
Alpaca is a US-headquartered, global leader in agent-first brokerage infrastructure for stocks, ETFs, options, crypto, fixed income, 24/5 trading, and more. Amongst our subsidiaries, Alpaca is a licensed financial services company, serving hundreds of financial institutions across 40 countries with our institutional-grade APIs. This includes broker-dealers, investment advisors, wealth managers, hedge funds, and crypto exchanges, totalling over 10 million brokerage accounts.
Our global team is a diverse group of experienced engineers, traders, and brokerage professionals who are working to achieve our mission of opening financial services to everyone on the planet. We're deeply committed to open-source contributions and fostering a vibrant community, continuously enhancing our award-winning, developer-friendly API and the robust infrastructure behind it.
Your Role: As a Cyber & AI Risk Analyst, you will play a critical role in strengthening Alpaca’s security, compliance, and AI risk posture across the organization. Reporting to the Cyber GRC Lead, you will support the identification, assessment, and documentation of cybersecurity and AI-related risks that impact our infrastructure, products, trading systems, and internal operations. You will contribute to the design and execution of our risk management framework across traditional cyber domains (cloud security, infrastructure, application security, third-party risk, regulatory compliance) while also helping establish foundational governance controls for AI systems, models, and AI-enabled product features.
This role sits at the intersection of cybersecurity, emerging AI governance, regulatory expectations, and financial services risk management. You’ll collaborate closely with Engineering, Product, Legal, Compliance, and IT teams to ensure Alpaca remains resilient, compliant, and forward-looking in how we manage both Cyber and AI risk. We’re looking for someone curious, organized, and eager to grow. If you enjoy learning how technical systems work, translating risk into clear language, and building structured programs from the ground up, then this role is for you. Prior GRC experience is a plus, but not required; we’re happy to invest in the right candidate.
Things You Get To Do:
- Support the execution of Alpaca’s cybersecurity risk management program
- Conduct cyber risk assessments across cloud infrastructure, APIs, trading systems, and internal platforms
- Assist in identifying, documenting, and evaluating AI-related risks (model risk, data privacy, bias, explainability, adversarial threats, model misuse)
- Help develop and maintain AI governance controls aligned with evolving regulatory expectations such as the EU AI Act
- Perform third-party/vendor security and AI risk assessments
- Contribute to control testing across frameworks such as SOC 2, ISO 27001, CSA Star, NIST CSF, and emerging AI governance standards
- Track remediation efforts and maintain risk registers and reporting dashboards
- Support internal and external audits by preparing documentation and evidence
- Monitor regulatory developments related to cybersecurity, financial services, and AI governance
- Help mature policies, standards, and procedures for both cyber and AI domains
- Support the development of a repeatable AI tool/model evaluation process (intake → review → decision) for new and in-use AI tools
- Support Alpaca's AI usage guidance and standards, including safe use of AI-enabled developer tools and assistants
- Help maintain AI logging/monitoring standards (audit logging, evidence) for AI systems
- Use AI tools in day-to-day work and help test how well AI-related controls are working
Who You Are (Must-Haves):
- 1+ years of experience in cybersecurity, risk management, IT audit, GRC, or a related field - internships, coursework, or equivalent experience is welcome
- Foundational understanding of cybersecurity principles (network security, cloud security, IAM, application security, vulnerability management)
- Familiarity with common frameworks such as NIST CSF, ISO 27001, SOC 2, or similar
- Understanding of AI/ML concepts and associated risks (data governance, model bias, hallucinations, prompt injection, model misuse, etc.) - you don’t need to be an expert, just curious
- Strong written communication and documentation skills
- Ability to assess technical risks and clearly communicate them to non-technical stakeholders
- Experience working cross-functionally with engineering and product teams
- Highly organized with strong attention to detail
- Genuine curiosity about AI and a strong desire to learn, actively experiments with AI tools, and wants to grow AI fluency as the field evolves
- Comfort using AI tools daily and willingness to learn newer agentic/assistant-based tooling
Who You Might Be (Nice-to-Haves):
- Academic background, personal interest, or real-world experience in fintech, financial services, or trading platforms
- Exposure to AI governance, model risk management, or responsible AI programs
- Familiarity with emerging AI regulatory frameworks (e.g., NIST AI RMF, EU AI Act concepts, model governance practices)
- Experience with GCP or other major cloud platforms
- Experience supporting or observing SOC 2, ISO 27001, or regulatory audits
- Security certifications (e.g., Security+, SSCP) or early-stage GRC certifications
- Interest in pursuing advanced certifications (CISA, CRISC, CISSP, or AI governance certifications)
- Experience working remotely or in distributed teams
- Hands-on experience with AI/agentic tooling (e.g., AI coding assistants, LLM apps, or similar)
- Personal projects or self-study in AI/ML that show initiative and interest
How We Take Care of You:
- Competitive Salary & Stock Options
- New Hire Home-Office Setup: One-time USD $500
- Monthly Stipend: USD $150 per month via a Brex Card
Alpaca is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace dedicated to pursuing and hiring a diverse workforce.
Cyber & AI Risk Analyst in London employer: Alpaca
At Alpaca, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through continuous learning opportunities and the chance to work with cutting-edge technologies in a fast-paced environment. Located in a vibrant tech hub, we offer competitive benefits and a supportive atmosphere that empowers our team to thrive both personally and professionally.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Cyber & AI Risk Analyst in London
✨Get Involved in the Cybersecurity Community
Diving into the cybersecurity community is key for landing that full-time gig. Join forums like Reddit's r/cybersecurity or attend local meetups to connect with industry veterans and other job seekers. Networking is everything in this field—don’t just be a passive lurker!
✨Show Off Your Skills with Capture the Flag Competitions
Participate in Capture the Flag (CTF) competitions; these are not just a fun way to boost your skills but also a chance to showcase your talent to potential employers. Many companies, including Alpaca, love seeing candidates who actively engage in these challenges.
✨Tailor Your Online Presence
Make sure your LinkedIn and any professional profiles reflect your cybersecurity expertise. Share your projects, whether they’re personal or from a previous role, to catch the eye of hiring managers. This is how they’ll find your passion and commitment to the field!
✨Apply Directly Through Alpaca
Don’t forget to head straight to our website and check out any openings for cybersecurity roles at Alpaca. Applying directly can sometimes give you an edge, especially if you can mention that you've been following our work or engaging in the community.
We think you need these skills to ace Cyber & AI Risk Analyst in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your technical skills:In cybersecurity, it's crucial to highlight your technical prowess. Make sure your CV showcases specific skills like network security, penetration testing, or threat analysis. If you have relevant certifications (like CEH or CISSP), pop those on the front page to grab attention!
Tailor your portfolio for the role:Even for a full-time role, a portfolio can set you apart. If you've worked on any cybersecurity projects—be it CTF challenges, security assessments, or research papers—include these in your application. This demonstrates not just your skills, but also your hands-on experience!
Use real-world examples:When writing your cover letter, don’t just stick to your qualifications. Share real-world examples of how you’ve tackled security issues or vulnerabilities. This gives the hiring team at Alpaca insight into your practical problem-solving abilities and makes your application memorable.
Demonstrate your passion for cybersecurity:Cybersecurity is an ever-evolving field, so show us that you’re always learning! Mention any recent courses, webinars, or industry events you’ve attended. This not only exhibits your enthusiasm but also signals to Alpaca that you’re committed to staying ahead in the game.
How to prepare for a job interview at Alpaca
✨Sharpen Your Technical Skills
For a role in cybersecurity, it’s essential to be up-to-date with the latest tools and techniques. Brush up on your knowledge of firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and vulnerability assessment tools. Be ready to discuss specific scenarios where you’ve applied these skills, as hands-on experience can really set us apart in interviews.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect the interviewers at Alpaca to throw in some hypothetical situations to see how you’d handle them. Think about common security breaches or incidents and be prepared to explain how you would respond. This not only shows your problem-solving skills but also your understanding of real-world cybersecurity challenges.
✨Highlight Your Certifications
Certifications like CompTIA Security+, CISSP, or CEH can give you a significant edge in a full-time role in cybersecurity. Make sure to mention these during your interview and be prepared to discuss what you learned through those certifications and how they relate to the position at Alpaca.
✨Show Your Passion for Cybersecurity
Since you’re going for a full-time gig, showing genuine enthusiasm for the field can make all the difference. Share any personal projects, blogs, or communities you’re part of that relate to cybersecurity. This not only showcases your passion but also your commitment to staying engaged in this ever-evolving field.
